Elderly want to buy most nutritious foods

According to Mintel research, 76% of consumers with more than 55 years tend to buy food with extra nutritional effects, and 89% of those people agree that it is worth spending more with these options. "73% of these consumers But say it''s difficult to understand the nutrition information prepared in the product packaging. And 65% of them claim that the health benefits are printed on packs influence your purchasing decisions, "explains Stephanie Mattucci, global food analyst of the British consulting firm Mintel.
According to Mattucci, the development of food products based on the needs of the elderly becomes a question increasingly urgent, since the world''s population is aging. According to the who (World Health Organization), the number of people 60 years will reach 1.2 billion in 2025.
"The nutrients are absorbed differently by the elderly. In addition, there are the issues of physical and cognitive limitations, dental problems, difficulty chewing and swallowing, loss of smell and taste, and loneliness, "said Mattucci. Thus, she continues, developers should have a focus on food for this portion of the population development of nutritionally dense products, that are easy to chew and contemplate these sensory-specific needs. "In fact, 21% of Brazilian consumers with more than 55 years claim it is difficult to find healthy products that are tasty," he says.
Far from stereotypes researcher highlights that the elderly of today are very different from those of 20 years ago, and they see each other as people much younger than their actual ages, with more physical and mental vigor. "In terms of product marketing, these individuals do not want to be portrayed as old or underestimated. In the past, some products and ads were based on age-related stereotypes, "said Mattucci.
Packages designed specifically for the elderly, with fewer parts than those for big families, should also be considered by the industry, says the researcher. "In addition, since the older ones may have difficulty in cooking, the food for them should be easy to prepare and have easy-to-open packaging", concludes.